Cytotoxic assay and new established cell line of sturgeon origin

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a cytotoxic assay using a new established fish cell line. The invention attained according to the object is a cytotoxic assay, wherein an evaluation of toxicity of a specimen is performed on the basis of its toxicity to an established cell line originated from sturgeon, preferably a STIP-1 cell line (FERM BP-8421) and a STIP-3 cell line (FERM BP-8422). Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a new established cell line expected to be used in the diagnosis of viral infection disease of sturgeon and so on. The invention attained according to the object is an established cell line originated from a sturgeon eyeball, particularly a STIP-1 cell line (FERM BP-8421) and a STIP-3 cell line (FERM BP-8422).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cytotoxic assay of various kinds ofspecimens, such as chemical compounds and heavy metals. Furthermore, thepresent invention relates to a new established cell line expected to beused in the diagnosis of viral infection disease of sturgeon.

2. Background Art

Heretofore the toxicity tests of quality of various specimens such aschemical compounds or heavy metals (zinc, cadmium, copper, arsenic,cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, chromium, tin, and mercuryand so on) have been done with individual animals. However, the methodusing the individual animals suffers a problem of too much time andexpense as well as that from a viewpoint of animal protection. In lateyears, therefore, toxicity assays that utilize established cell lines(culture cells) (i.e., cytotoxic assays), have been considered.

It is desirable to perform the toxicity test of a specimen in an aqueousenvironment with an established cell line derived from a fish origin.The toxicity assays using RTG-2 cells which are cells of a fibroblasticestablished cell line originated from a rainbow trout ovary and FHMcells which are cells of an epithelial established cell line originatedfrom fathead minnow have been considered. However, these methods are notadequate in an aspect of sensitivity. In addition, there is a problemthat a growth rate is late and a growth temperature range is small asfor the RTG-2 cell, which can not be always satisfactory in an aspect ofconvenience.

In late years, aquaculture skills continue a remarkable development inincreasing the number of fish species which can be cultivated andimproving the stabilities in supply. On the other hand, there is aproblem of the death of a culture fish by an infection disease causedby, such as bacteria or viruses. In particular, the fact is that thereis no measure effective to such a problem even though viral infectiondisease after leads to a large quantity of deaths. For viral infectiondisease, it becomes important how early it is checked.

For the diagnosis of viral infection, established cell lines havingsensitivities against the virus that is responsible for viral infectionin fishes are indispensable. As to the established cell line of fishorigin, many established cell lines have been reported since RTG-2 cellswhich are of a fibroblastic established cell line originated from arainbow trout ovary were established. However, many of these establishedcell lines are derived from fibroblastic origins but not epithelialorigins. That is, most of them are isolat d, cultured and establishedfrom limited fish species such as salmon and carp. Consequently, atpresent, the diagnosis of viral infection or the isolation of virusitself are not always smoothly performed about a various kinds of fishspecies.

By the way, sturgeon is the ancient species that has lived for about300000000 years, but its egg is valued high as caviar, and, also itsmeat has high utility value as edible, thus it is expected as futureculture object fish. In such an aspect, there is an indispensable needfor established cell lines to check viral infection disease of sturgeon.However, only a few reports have been published for the established celllines of sturgeon, although for example, there is a report about theestablished cell lines of white sturgeon grouped in the genus Acipenserin “Transactions of the American Fisheries Society” 120: 528–534, 1991.Therefore, it is very important to establish a new established cell lineexpected to be used for the diagnosis of viral infection disease ofsturgeon. The establishment of such a new established cell line willlead to a great advantage in the production of vaccine effective toviral infection disease of sturgeon and at the time of the cytotoxictests of chemical compounds, heavy metals or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acytotoxic assay using a new established fish cell line. It is anotherobject of the present invention to provide a new established cell lineexpected to be used in the diagnosis of viral infection disease ofsturgeon.

The present invention accomplished in consideration of the above fact,as described in embodiment 1, is a cytotoxic assay, wherein anevaluation of toxicity of a specimen is performed on the basis of itstoxicity to an established cell line originated from sturgeon.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 2 is a method using anestablished cell line of Bester origin.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 3 is a method using anestablished cell line of an epithelial cell origin.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 4 is a method using anestablished cell line of an ocular epithelial cell origin.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 5 is a method using anestablished cell line of an iris pigmented epithelial cell origin.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 6 is a method using anestablished cell line, where a passage culture of which is possiblewithout adding an extra cellular matrix.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 7 is a method using anestablished cell line, where 50 times or more of passage cultures ofwhich are possible.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 8 is a method using anestablished cell line having a doubling time of less than 50 hours onthe second day to the sixth day after the initiation of culture at 20°C.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 9 is a method using anestablished cell line having a plating efficiency of 75% or more, whichis the percentage of cells being attached on a culture dish in one hourafter adding these cells into the culture dish.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 10 is a method using STIP-1cells (FERM BP-8421) which are included in an established cell line of asturgeon eyeball origin.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 11 is a method using STIP-3cells (FERM BP-8422) which are included in an established cell line of asturgeon eyeball origin.

In addition, a cytotoxic assay of embodiment 12 is a method using anAlamar Blue assay for the toxic evaluation of a specimen.

In addition, the invention is, as described in embodiment 13, anestablished cell line of a sturgeon eyeball origin.

In addition, in the established cell line of embodiment 14, sturgeon isBester.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 15 is an ocularepithelial cell origin.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 16 is an irispigmented epithelial cell origin.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 17 is anestablished cell line, where a passage culture of which is possiblewithout adding an extra cellular matrix.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 18 is anestablished cell line, where 50 times or more of passage cultures ofwhich are possible.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 19 has a doublingtime of less than 50 hours on the second day to the sixth day after theinitiation of culture at 20° C.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 20 has a platingefficiency of 75% or more, which is the percentage of cells beingattached on a culture dish in one hour after adding these cells into theculture dish.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 21 is STIP-1 cells(FERM BP-8421) which are included in an established cell line of asturgeon eyeball origin.

In addition, the established cell line of embodiment 22 is STIP-3 cells(FERM BP-8422) which are included in an established cell line of asturgeon eyeball origin.

According to the invention, a cytotoxic assay using a new establishedfish cell line, i.e., an established cell line originated from sturgeonis provided. In addition, according to the present invention, anestablished cell line originated from a sturgeon eyeball is provided,which can be expected to be used in the diagnosis of viral infectiondisease of sturgeon and can be of high value even in the production ofvaccine effective to viral infection disease of sturgeon and at the timeof the cytotoxic tests of chemical compounds, heavy metals, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a micrograph that represents the STIP-1 cell;

FIG. 2 is a micrograph that represents the STIP-3 cell;

FIG. 3 is a graph that represents the growth curves of the STIP-1 cellat the respective temperatures;

FIG. 4 is a graph that represents the growth curves of the STIP-3 cellat the respective temperatures;

FIG. 5 is a graph that illustrates the influence of FBS on the growth ofthe STIP-1 cell;

FIG. 6 is a graph that illustrates the influence of FBS on the growth ofthe STIP-3 cell;

FIG. 7 is a graph that represents the number of chromosomes of each ofthe STIP-1 cell and the STIP-3 cell;

FIG. 8 is a diagram that represents the STIP-1 cell's chromosomalspecimen;

FIG. 9 is a diagram that represents the STIP-3 cell's chromosomalspecimen;

FIG. 10 is a graph that represents the adhesion properties of the STIP-1cell to the culture dish; and

FIG. 11 is a graph that represents the toxicities of cadmium to theSTIP-1 cell and the STIP-3 cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the cytotoxic assay of the present invention, an established cellline originated from sturgeon is used for evaluating the toxicity of aspecimen. Sturgeon may be, for example, one belonging to the genus Husoor Acipenser, preferably a quality-improved sturgeon, Bester, obtainedby cross breeding between a female of Beluga (H. Huso) belonging to thegenus Huso and a male of Sterlet (A. ruthenus) belonging to the genusAcipenser. As the Bester is a hybrid species, an established cell lineoriginated from Bester has been expected to have both of thecharacteristics of the genus Huso sturgeon's cell and thecharacteristics of the genus Acipenser sturgeon's cell.

For instance, the cell line originated from sturgeon is established froman epithelial cell. The epithelial cell may be one obtained from anypart of sturgeon. Preferably, it may be of an epithelial cell of anytissue of an eyeball. A preferable epithelial cell may be an irispigmented epithelial cell, a retinal pigmented epithelial cell, or thelike which is existent without contact with the outer environment. Thereis no possibility of microbial pollution in these cells originally.Therefore, a microbial contamination of an established cell line isperfectly prevented by aseptically performing a subsequent operation ifthe cells can be taken out aseptically. The cell line may be stablishedfrom an epithelial cell originated from kidney or ovary. In this case,however, for establishing a cell line, it is necessary to recognize theneed of a certain time and labor for only selecting the objectiveepithelial cell from these tissues for an isolation culture and theundeniable possibility of a microbial contamition.

A method of establishing a cell line may be a well-known method by whichprimary culture cells are cultured successively. A culture medium may beone prepared by adding fetal bovine serum (FBS) in a Leibovitz's L15culture medium typically used for culturing fish cells.

A preferable established cell line originated from sturgeon may be, forexample, STIP-1 cells (FERM BP-8421) and STIP-3 cells (FERM BP-8422),which are originated from iris pigmented epithelial cells of a Bestereyeball. Each of these cells has higher sensitivity, compared with RTG-2cells, FHM cells, or the like. In addition, it is superior in an aspectof convenience since each of these cells can be cultured successivelywithout adding an extra cellular matrix and 50 times or more of passagecultures of which can be attained. Among them, the STIP-1 cell has thecharacteristic features in that a doubling time of less than 50 hours onthe second day to the sixth day after the initiation of culture at 20°C., and a plating efficiency of 75% or more, which is the percentage ofcells being attached on a culture dish in one hour after adding thesecells into the culture dish. Even if a large number of experimentalspots are established, therefore, it can be easily and quickly tested.

The toxicity of the specimen to an established cell line originated formsturgeon may be, for example, evaluated using an Alamar Blue assay.

The Alamar Blue assay is one of the bioassay methods being developed tomeasure the cellular metabolisms of the animal cells or the like. TheAlamar Blue pigment is an oxidation-reduction pigment which should beincorporated in a cell for its reduction. The Alamar Blue pigment hasthe characteristics to be changed from an oxidation type(non-fluorescence/blue) to a reduction type (fluorescence/red) by thereduction reaction of the respiratory metabolism system done inmitochondria. If the cellular metabolism is normal, the reductionreaction proceeds in normal. On the other hand, if the cellularmetabolism becomes abnormal, the oxidation type is remained as it is.Therefore, the abnormality of a cellular metabolism can be determined bymeasuring the change in color. Furthermore, the measurement of acellular metabolism may be based on the fluorescence and the lightabsorption. In this case the fluorescence is monitored by an excitationwavelength of 530 nm to 560 nm and a detection wavelength of 590 nm, andthe light absorption is monitored at wavelengths of 570 nm and 600 nm.

The Alamar Blue assay is desirable in that the evaluation can beperformed easily as the Alamar Blue pigment is water-soluble, and thereis no need of extraction and fixation to be required in the bioassaymethods using another pigment such as neutral red.

In addition, for example, this Alamar Blue assay can be performed usinga commercial kit (manufactured by Biosource Co., Ltd.).

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, we will describe the present invention more concretely withreference to the following examples.

Example 1 Establishment of a Cell Line Originated from Sturgeon

1. Isolation of iris pigmented Epithelial Cells from a Bester's Eyeball

Eyeballs were extracted from 30 individual Besters of about 15 cm inbody length and were then sterilized in 70% ethanol, followed by washingwell with PBS (−) added with penicillin and streptomycin. Subsequently,a cornea and a lens were removed from each eyeball and an iris was thencut off. The iris thus obtained was treated with 0.05% EDTA for about 40minutes to make the separation between the iris pigmented epithelialcell and the connective tissues such as a stroma and a sclera of theiris easily, followed by removing these connective tissues. Isolatediris pigmented epithelial cells in sheet form were subjected to anenzyme treatment with 0.125% trypsin to obtain individually separatedcells (primary cells).

2. Primary Culture

The primary cells obtained as described above were seeded in a plasticdish (a culture dish) of 3.5 cm in diameter and cultured using a culturemedium prepared by adding 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (manufactured byGibco Co., Ltd.), penicillin (10 unit/ml) and streptomycin (50 μg/ml) ina Leibovitz's L15 culture medium (manufactured by Gibco Co., Ltd.) in aCO₂ incubator (air atmosphere) at 20° C. Among the primary cells, cellshaving excellent growth abilities were selected and then culturedsuccessively.

3. Passage Culture

When the culture dish became confluent with cells, the cells wereexfoliated from the culture dish using a solution containing 0.05% EDTAand 0.125% trypsin. Subsequently, the cells were collected by acentrifugal separation and were then transferred to another culturedish, followed by successively culturing the cells using the aboveculture medium. After repeating a series of these steps, two kinds ofcell lines (STIP-1 cells and STIP-3 cells) capable of being cultured fora long time were obtained. These cells are therefore of taxonomy: Animalcell, Huso huso X Acipenser ruthenus(Bester). In each of these celllines to be cultured successively, cells were fixed in the culture dishwithout the need of coating the bottom surface of the culture dish withan extra cellular matrix such as collagen.

In addition, the above two kinds of the established cell lines weredeposited under the Budapest Treaty to National Institute of AdvancedIndustrial Science and Technology—International Patent OrganismDepositary (IPOD), located at AIST Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1 Higashi1-Chome, Tukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8566 Japan, with the depositionNo. FERM BP-8421 for the STIP-1 cells and No. FERM BP-8422 for theSTIP-3 cells, respectively. At the time of this patent application, thenumber of passage cultures of the cell line STIP-1 exceeded 140 times,and the number of passage cultures of the cell line STIP-3 exceeded 80times, repeatedly.

4. Characteristics of the STIP-1 Cells and the STIP-3 Cells

(Form of Cell)

The STIP-1 cells were epithelial cells with elongated shapes (see FIG.1: A 100-magnification micrograph of cells on the eighth day after theinitiation of culture). On the other hand, the STIP-3 cells were typicalvalvate epithelial cells (see FIG. 2: A 100-magnification micrograph ofcells on the fourteenth day after the initiation of culture).

(Temperature Characteristic of Cell)

As shown in FIG. 3, the STIP-1 cells indicated good proliferatingproperties at temperatures in a wide range of 15° C. to 32° C.,particularly excellent at 20° C. A doubling time of the cells on thesecond day to the sixth day after the initiation of culture at 20° C.(the time that cells multiply exponentially) was 38.9 hours, resultingin a growth rate thereof about two times higher than the RTG-2 cells. Onthe other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the STIP-3 cells indicated goodproliferating properties at temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 20° C.If the temperature is 30° C. or more, the proliferating properties ofthe STIP-3 cells were inhibited. A doubling time of the cells on thesecond day to the sixth day after the initiation of culture at 20° C.was 74.9 hours.

(Influence of FBS on the Cell Growth)

As shown in FIG. 5, a sufficient concentration of FBS to be added in theLeibovitz's L15 culture medium required for the proliferation of theSTIP-1 cells was 4%. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a sufficientconcentration of FBS to be added in the Leibovitz's L15 culture mediumrequired for the proliferation of the STIP-3 cells was 4%. Accordingly,since FBS required for the proliferation of these cell lines was small,it was found that a mass culture of each of these cell lines waseconomically effective.

(Number of Chromosome in Cell)

The number of chromosomes of the STIP-1 cells and the number ofchromosomes of the STIP-3 cells were examined by the conventionalprocedures in which a colchicine treatment was performed on thelogarithmic-growth cells on the sixth day after the initiation ofculture, which cells were at the time of 80 times of passage cultures.Concretely, the colchicine was added to the cells so that the finalconcentration thereof became 0.20 μg/ml. After culturing for 18 hours,the culture medium was removed and the cells were washed with PBS (−).Subsequently, the cells were exfoliated from the culture dish using asolution containing 0.05% EDTA and 0.125% trypsin, and were thencollected by a centrifugal separation. The cells being collected wasadded with 0.075M of KCl, followed by being placed for 20 minutes atroom temperature in a hypotonic treatment. The hypotonic-treatedcellular suspension was fixed with a Carnoy fluid in ice for 20 minutesand was then provided a chromosome specimen by a frame dry method.Subsequently, a Giemsa staining was performed on the chromosome specimenand the number of chromosomes was counted under a microscopicobservation (a magnification of 1000 times) As a result, the number ofchromosomes, of the STIP-1 cells was 2n=166±7.6, and the number ofchromosomes of the STIP-3 cells was 2n=121±6.1. In each cell line, thenumber of chromosomes was increased, compared with the number ofchromosomes of Bester (2n=117) (see FIG. 7). It is characterized by thisresult that both cells are established cell lines. When the chromosomewas classified, both cells were basically diploids, but aneuploid wasshown at random. An example of the chromosome specimen of the STIP-1cell having 2n=173 is shown in FIG. 8, and an example of the chromosomespecimen of the STIP-3 cell having 2n=126 is shown in FIG. 9.

(Adhesive Property of Cell)

The adhesive properties of the STIP-1 cells on the culture dish wereinvestigated with reference to the time period from the addition ofcells to the culture dish to the adhesion of cells thereon (Platingefficiency: a percentage expression of a value obtained by dividing thenumber of cells fixed on the culture dish after a predetermined timewith the total cell number added to the culture dish). The results areshown in FIG. 10. As is evident from FIG. 10, the STIP-1 cells showed aplating efficiency of 51.4% after 5 minutes from the addition of cellsto the culture dish. They showed a plating efficiency of 83.5% after onehour, and an extremely high plating efficiency of 94.8% after 24 hours.

Example 2 Cytotoxic Test of Heavy Metals Using the STIP-1 Cells and theSTIP-3 Cells

(A) Cytotoxicities of Cadmium to the STIP-1 Cells and the STIP-3 Cellswere Evaluated as Follows.

1. Method

Cells were cultured in a 96-well microtiter plate in a CO₂ incubator(air atmosphere) at 20° C. until it became confluent. The culture wasperformed using a culture medium prepared by adding 10% fetal bovineserum (FBS) (manufactured by Gibco Co., Ltd.), penicillin (10 unit/ml)and streptomycin (50 μg/ml) in a Leibovitz's L15 culture medium(manufactured by Gibco Co., Ltd.).

A 0.2M aqueous solution of a specimen (cadmium chloride, CdCl₂.2H₂O) wasprepared and was then sterilized by passing through a filter of 0.2 μmin pore size to be preserved at 4° C. From this cadmium aqueoussolution, cadmium aqueous solutions having 9 different concentrations of0.01 mM, 0.025 mM, 0.05 mM, 0.075 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM, 0.75 mM,and 1 mM, respectively were prepared and inoculated in the respectivewells. For a comparison example, the culture medium in the absence ofthe specimen was inoculated in a well. After 24 hours passed, an AlamarBlue pigment was added and an additional culture was continued forfurther 24 hours.

Subsequently, by using a microplate reader, the light absorbance of eachwell was measured using two wavelengths (570 nm and 600 nm). Theinhibition value of a cellular metabolism with the cadmium aqueoussolution was measured as a reduction rate of a well (a sample)inoculated with a cadmium aqueous solution to a well only containing theculture medium as a control The calculation was performed using thefollowing equation.Inhibition value (%)=100−(A/B)×100

* A=sample well (A570 nm−A600 nm)−blank well (A570 nm−A600 nm), and

B=control well (A570 nm−A600 nm)−blank well (A570 nm−A600 nm).

In addition, (A/B)×100 means a survival rate (%) of cells.

In the above method, the evaluation of the toxicity of cadmium to eachof the STIP-1 cells and the STIP-3 cells was performed on the basis of atoxicity concentration value EC₅₀ which effects on 50% of the cells.

2. Results

The EC₅₀ value of cadmium to the STIP-1 cells was 0.089 mM, and the EC₅₀value of cadmium to the STIP-3 cells was 0.1 mM (see FIG. 11). TheseEC₅₀ values were smaller than the EC₅₀ value obtained from the RTG-2cells or the FHM cells, 0.18 mM to 0.38 mM. It revealed that the STIP-1cells and the STIP-3 cells had excellent sensitivities higher than thoseof the RTG-2 cells and the FHM cells, respectively.

(B) Evaluations of toxicities of eight kinds of heavy metals except ofcadmium to the STIP-1 cells were performed by the same way as describedin the above (A). The results were shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Heavy Metals EC₅₀ (mM) CoCl₂.6H₂O 2.2000 CuCl₂.2H₂O 1.3200 HgCl₂0.0850 MnCl₂.4H₂O 0.4000 NiCl₂.6H₂O >10 Pb(NO₃)₂ 3.3000 ZnSO₄.7H₂O0.4000 Tributyl tin 0.0009(C) Summary of the Example 2

As a result of performing the evaluations of the toxicities of ninekinds of heavy metals to the STIP-1 cells, tributyl tin showed thestrongest toxicity, and the EC₅₀ value thereof was 9×10⁻⁴ mM. Tributyltin showed its toxicity at a concentration about 100 times lower thanother heavy metals. Furthermore, heavy metals that showed toxicities tothe STIP-1 cells can be arranged in toxic strong order:tin>mercury>cadmium>zinc=manganese>copper>cobalt>lead>nickel. It was thesame tendency as the toxicities to the culture cells of other fishorigins previously reported. Among them, manganese showed the strongtoxicity to the STIP-1 cells about 10 times more than that to theculture cells of other fish origins.

Example 3 Cytotoxic Test of Phenols Using the STIP-1 Cells

Evaluations of toxicities of twelve kinds of phenols to the STIP-1 cellswere performed by the same way as described in Example 2 (A). Theresults were shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Phenols EC₅₀ (mM) Phenol 8.6000 p-nitrophenol 0.3500p-chlorophenol 0.8000 2,3-dichlorophenol 0.0800 2,4-dichlorophenol0.0550 2,5-dichlorophenol 0.0560 2,6-dichlorophenol 0.90003,4-dichlorophenol 0.0300 2,4,5-trichlorophenol 0.00702,4,6-trichlorophenol 0.7000 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol 0.0090Pentachlorophenol 0.0900

As is evident from Table 2, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol showed the strongesttoxicity to the STIP-1 cells. The EC₅₀ values of twelve kinds of phenolsinvestigated this time were two to six times lower than the EC₅₀ valuesto the culture cells of other fish origins. It indicated that the STIP-1cells were useful cells for investigating the toxicities of phenols.

1. The cytotoxic assay comprising contacting a test specimen with an established cell line originated from sturgeon eyeball, and evaluating the toxicity of the specimen to said cell line.
 2. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line is of Bester origin.
 3. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line is of an epithelial cell origin.
 4. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 3, wherein said established cell line is of an ocular epithelial cell origin.
 5. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 4, wherein said established cell line is of an iris pigmented epithelial cell origin.
 6. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line is a cell line where a passage culture of which is possible without adding an extra cellular matrix.
 7. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line is a cell line where 50 times or more of passage cultures of which are possible.
 8. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line has a doubling time of less than 50 hours on the second day to the sixth day after the initiation of culture at 20° C.
 9. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line has a plating efficiency of 75% or more, which is the percentage of cells being attached on a culture dish in one hour after adding these cells into the culture dish.
 10. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line is STIP-1 cells (FERM BP-8421), which are of a sturgeon eyeball origin.
 11. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said established cell line is STIP-3 cells (FERM BP-8422), which are of a sturgeon eyeball origin.
 12. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cytotoxic assay is an Alamar Blue assay for the toxic evaluation of said specimen.
 13. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specimen is selected from the group consisting of chemical compounds and heavy metals.
 14. The cytotoxic assay as claimed in claim 13, wherein said heavy metals are selected from the group consisting of zinc, cadmium, copper, arsenic, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, chromium, tin, and mercury. 